Thursday, April 26, 2007

Weight Loss Journey = Pregnancy???

I was sharing my story with someone earlier this evening and I started thinking about this analogy... sorry guys...you won't get it. But ladies, this really hit home to me. I used my personal journey as an example, but please insert your diet program whatever that may be. :)

This journey kinda reminds me of being pregnant and expecting that first baby.... When you first find out, it's all exciting and there's the anticipation and the congratulations and on and on... I liken this to the first day of your diet. You're pumped and excited... raring to go. Then comes the first trimester when no-one knows that you're expecting and you feel like dog doo doo. This is the first weeks/month of your weight loss program No one but you can really tell that you're losing depending on how much you need to lose. You feel are just downright irritated.

Then the second trimester gives you hope... you're starting to show and you feel a lot better and can actually enjoy the pregnancy. This is those fast moving (for the most part) middle stages of the loss journey. People are starting to notice. You're still seeing good results on the scale and you can start really feeling good about yourself.

And then the third trimester..... you're done. You're ready for it to be over. The time seems to drag and drag..... this is the very end.... those last 10 pounds that you never thought you'd get to see.... this time the loss slows down. The goal is so close and yet so far.... BUT THEN!!! The reward for sticking it out in the PG is a beautiful new life... a baby..... Good news is... the reward for making it through the program.... A BEAUTIFUL NEW LIFE!!! You learn with that first baby how to love, nurture, protect, care for it as best as humanly possible.... You learn in maintenance... how to love, nurture, protect and care for your new body.... your new life.... cherish it.... Praise the ONE who gave it to you!!!

During the journey, time drags, even stands still sometimes. We think that it is taking forever, the end will never come. But then you turn around and all of a sudden, there it is. That thing that you have worked so hard for, that you have longed for and waited so patiently for is finally here. Now it's up to you as to where you go from here. We know that nervousness coming home from the hospital for the first time w/ the new baby. You're not sure how to take care of it. Wonder how on earth you'll ever be able to be all that you need to be for this precious child, this gift from the Lord. Same with your body.... you're finally here, and now, it's up to you to keep it up. You're nervous about adding in those first few foods. Wonder how it will effect you, do you know everything you need to to make it work.

We learn to raise our children by trial and error. Just the same, you learn by trial and error. Learn but never give up. Where would we be, where would our children be if one thing we tried didn't work and we just gave up the training??? It is a daily, sometimes even hourly battle/struggle. But the end result is so worth it. Always fight the good fight. Never doubt that you have done a good thing, and learn to listen to your body. It just like our children have ways of letting you know if you're doing a good job...